Starting means for gas or vapor electric devices.



PATENTED JULY 19, 1904.

- S. E. FLIGHTNER. STARTING MEANS-FOR GAS'OR VAPOR ELEGTRIG DBVIGES.

AIPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 19. 1903.

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N0. 765,617. v f PATBNTED JULY 19, 1904. s. E.- FLIGHTN'ER. STARTING MEANS FOR GAS-0R VAPOR ELECTRIC DEVICES.-

APPLIOATIQR FILED SEPT. 19. 1903. I '30 MODEL. 7 3 SHEBTS-SHEET 2.

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1 by A I No. 765,617. PATEN TED JULY 19, 1904.. .S. E. FLIGHTNER.

STARTING MEANS FOR GAS 0R VAPOR ELECTRIC DEVICES.

APPLIUATIOH FILED ssrm. 19. 1903. no MODEL. a sums-sum a.

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n f I v Q 7 MAIM- Patented July 19, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE.

I STANVVOOD E. FLIOHTNER, OF ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO COOPER HEWITT ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

STARTING MEANS FOR GAS on VAPQR ELECTRIC-DEVICES;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 765,617, dated July 19, 1904.

Original application filed August 10, 1903, Serial No. 168,981.

.To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STANWOOD FLIGHT- .NER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Englewood, county of Bergen, State of lowing is a specification.

The invention forming the subject of this application relates to a means for starting gas or vapor electric apparatus in which electrodes of mercury or other liquid conducting material are located one above the other in the normal operation of the apparatus. It has been customary to start devices of this character into operation by impressing upon the terminals of the apparatus or through a starting-band or other equivalent a higher potential than that on which the apparatus is designed for operation, after which the source of high potential has been removed from the circuit'and the device has'been operated on a certain lower normal potential. I have devised means whereby the use of a source'of: higher potential may be dispensed with and the apparatus can be started with the normal operating-current applied to its terminals. The mode in which this is accomplished may be.briefly described as consisting in tilting .the apparatus sothat a portion of the mercury or other liquid conductor residing in the receptacle containing the lower electrode will be spilled into the receptacle for the upper electrode and the excess will then be restored to the lower electrode-receptacle in a stream.

while the current is applied to the terminals.

It is found that when this is done the stream of fallingliquid will constitute a good conductor between the terminals and that when the liquid acting under the influence of gravity begins to form itself into spray near the bottom of the falling stream the current will pass from the mercury surrounding the lower terminal of the apparatus to the end of the solid portion of the stream and as the latter turns-into spray will follow up the solid part of the stream until all the liquid which it is Divided and this application filed September 19, 1903. Serial (No model.)

designed to spill over has passed out of the upper receptacle, whereupon current will flow from the lower electrode to the upper, it being understood that sufiicient mercury or other. conducting liquid is retained in the upper receptacle to constitute an electrode for the apparatus.

Considering the particular embodiment which belongs to an apparatus designed for carrying out the above-described method, it may assume various forms; but, among other things, it will generally be provided with means whereby the apparatus can be tipped or tilted soas to cause some of the liquid from the normal lower electrode-receptacle to flow into the upper and can then be restored, so as to cause a continuous stream of conducting liquid from the normal upper electrode-receptacle to the lower. I generally support the apparatus in a frame and provide means whereby the frame can be tilted and also provide a stop for limiting the movement of the frame. I may also provide cushions or other equivalent for preventing shock during the tilting movement or at its termination.

It is often convenient to start two or more gas or vapor electric devices of the character described by the same operation, the devices being arranged in series with eachother. I may, however, start the devices singly, as will be fully described hereinafter.

I have illustrated my. invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of two gas or vapor electric devices mounted in a tilting frame. Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof. Figs. 3 aud t are detail views; and Figs. 5, 6, 7 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 illustrate modified forms of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a supporting-base having uprights or standards 2 2. Between the standards I mount a frame 3, generally of some good insulating material. The said frame 3 is suspended on pivots 4 5,

the latter being connected with acrank-hanas being mounted on cross-pieces 8 9 by meansof suitable clips 10 10 10 10. The cross-pieces 8 and 9 extend across the frame 3 and'are sup' ported thereon.- I may provide a mirror or reflector 11 to assist in throwing the light forward, and 1 may also provide protecting-net densing-chamber 13. Lead-wires 17 and 18- connect, respectively, with the electrodes in the receptacles and 16.

The receptacles 16 have a capacity greater than is necessary for holding sufficient mercury or other conducting liquid to constitute the upper electrodes.

The first operation consists in tilting the vapor apparatus by means of the crank-handle 6, so that the frame will occupy the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. By this operation a part of the mercury in the receptacle 15 is poured into the receptacle 16, thereby filling the latter receptacle with an excess of mercury. The next operation consists in turning the frame 3 back to its normal position, as indicated in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2, during which operation the mercury is poured in a stream from the upper to the lower electrode, thereby constituting a complete metallic conducting-circuit within the apparatus.

The external or supply circuit is illustrated at 19 20 and is provided with a controllingswitch 21' for opening and closing the same. The wire 19 is connected, as shown, through the walls of the frame 3 near one of its pivots with the leading-in wire 17 of one of the vapor devices, the opposite electrode of the same device being connected by awire 22, conducting-pieces 23, and a wire 24 with the leading-in wire 17 of the next vapor device in the series. From the opposite electrode of this second vapor device a wire 25 leads through the walls of the frame 3 to a rheostat or inductive device 26, and thence by a wire 27 to the conductor 20. The circuits being run as described, when the tilting motions mentioned above are accomplished the streams of falling mercury or other conducting liquid in the gas or vapordevices 7 7 will practically close a continuous conducting-circuit from one of the main wires 19 20 to the other.

In practice it is found that the streams say of mercuryare formed into spray near the bottom and that the current passes from the electrodes in the lower receptacles 15 15 through the spray to the ends of the solid portions offthe streams, creeping gradually upwardii s the spray spreads in the other direc- The said parts 13 13.

tion, until a continuous flow of current takes place, no longer through the liquid stream, but through the vapor inside the apparatus. If the devices are arranged to give light, it will be found that the vapor-path between the electrodes of the several gas or vapor devices is strongly illuminated.

- I may pass one of the conductors leading to or from the terminals of the apparatus through a pair of springs 28 29, secured to the movable frame 3 and provided with a bent portion 30, adapted to engage with an insulating stop 31 on one of the standard supports or uprights 2 2. The object of this arrangement is to provide against a turning back of the tilting frame for a second operation while the current is still flowing throughthe apparatus, which might result in emptying one or both of the electrode-receptacles and causing a burning away'of the platinum leading-in wires at that point. By means of the springlocking device described above when the tilting frame is returned to its upright position I and the apparatus is in operation the bent piece 30 will spring over the stop 31, so that the frame cannot again be tilted without forcing the springs to separate by reason of the fact that the stop 31 must pass between them in order to allow the tilting. This operation serves to separate the springs, and thereby stop the flow of current through the apparatus. The frame can then be tilted for a second operation without danger to the leadingin devices.

I find 1t convenlent sometimes to mount the base 1 and the parts which it supports upon a stem 32, which is adjustable in a hollow base 33, a thumb-screw 34 being used to-regulate the adjustment.

Fig. 5 shows a gas or vapor electrical de- -vice 7 mounted underneath a rod or bar 35,

which'is pivoted to a standard 36 on a base 37. The rod or bar is connected with a piston-rod 38, connected with a plunger 39 in a cylinder 40, the last-named piece constituting a dash-pot connected with the rod or 'bar 35 for preventing too rapid a movement thereof on its pivot. provided for assisting in the regulation of the cord 44 is designed to serve as a means for pulling down the gas or vapor electric appa- 'ratus and filling the electrode-receptacle 16,

after which the starting of the apparatus takes place automatically through its being restored by means of the spring 41 to the position illustrated.

Fig. 6 shows devices whereby two lamps 7 7, connected in series, can be tilted by means of acord 44, running over apu-lley- 45. This A spring 41 may be ing apparatus of this sort.

cord is provided witha counterweight 46, which, however, is not heavy enough to retain the'devices after their inner ends have been drawn up by the cord, but allows them to sink slowly, and thereby be properly started into operation.

Fig. 7 illustrates automatic means for start- Here one end of the gas or vapor electrical device 7 is supported by a cord 50 and the other bya cord 52, the weighted arm 51 being provided above the gas or vapor device. To the cord 52 I attach conical pieces,,one of which is shown at 53, which are adapted tobe grasped by. clutches. or tongs 54, carried by a cord 55,

running over a pulley 56. Thecord 52 runs over another pulley 58 and carries at its lower end a counterweight 59.

To operate this apparatus, it is necessary to pull down on the cord 55, lifting the cord 52 and one end of the gas or vapor device 7. The lifting ceases, however, and the gas or vapor apparatus is allowed to fall by gravity when the upper ends of the clutches or tongs 54 are drawn into conical guides 60 on the support 61 for the pulley 58.

The clutches or tongs are thereby opened and release the conical piece 53, with which they have been in engagement, and thereby permit the gas or vapor apparatus to fall, as described. Stops 100 and 101, secured, respectively, to the cords 55 and 52, prevent the apparatus from being carried too far.

The uncovering of the lower leading-in wire may be prevented by other means than those already described. For example, as shown in Fig. 8, the lower electrode-receptacle 15 may be extended in such a way as to insure that some of the mercury or other liquid will always remain in the receptacle even when the frame 3 is tilted to its extreme position.

InFig. 9 1 illustrate other means for causing the automatic restoration of the gas or- Here the tube 7 is sup-' vapor apparatus. ported upon a rod or bar 70, which is provided at its lower end with a. counterweight 71, adapted to restore the apparatus after it tends a cord 82, which is connected to the rod or arm at the eyepiece 83. To the opposite end of the cord 82 is connected a weight 84,

adapted to serve as a counterweight with respect to the weight 71, as already described, and to prevent a sudden dropping of the gasor vapor apparatus when it. is.released,;as will. be

- sudden dropping of the apparatus. ley is flexibly secured to the shaft 77 by described farther on. I also provide springs and 86, which'I attach to the rod or arm 7 O and bear against opposite sides of the supporting-arm 79 to assist in preventing any The pulmeans of a-spring 87, one end of which is connected with the shaft and the other with the pulley. On the inner side of this pulley I mount a pivoted catch 88 and provide a spring 89, which tends to urge the catch into cooperation with the pin on the inner side of the pulley 81. To the shaft, betweenthe pulleys, I secure, by means of the pin 91, a cam 92, which is adapted to rotate with the shaft. 8 The pulley 81 is loosely mounted on the shaft and its movements of rotation are controlled by the devices now being described and by the force of the counterweight 84 and the parts cooperating therewith,

In order to tilt the apparatus into the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig". 9, it is necessary to pull down on the operating-ring 74, thereby rotating the pulley 75 and carrying the pulley 81 along with it by reasonof the engagement of the catch 88 with the pin 90 on the latter pulley.

It should be understood that the cord'82 is 1 attached to a lug on the pulley 81, so that when the said pulley is rotated the cord is' positively pulled along and the gas or vapor apparatus is lifted or tilted, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig.9. This operation continues until the cam 92 is brought intoengagement with the end of'th'e catch-lever 88, thereby lifting the latter off the pin 90 and releasing the pulley 81. Thereupon the latter falls into the'power of the opposing forces constituted mainly by the weight 71 and the counterweight 84. The gas or vapor appa- 'ratus accordingly begins to sink into its normal position, as illustratedby full lines in Fig. 9, and during. this process a stream of -mercurypasses from. the receptacle 16 to the receptacle 15 with the results already describedthat is to say, the apparatus is startedintooperation, the circuit being first established through a solid. stream of mercury,

and subsequently being established through the vapor as the mercury breaks up at the- -lower'end of the stream or elsewhere in its course.

It will be understood that during the pull ingup of the apparatus into the dotted-position shown in Fig. 9 some of the mercury from the receptacle 15 will have passed over .into the receptacle 16, thereby creating an excess of conducting liquid in the latter receptacle.

It will be understood that the vapor de-' 1 vices described in'this specification may be started by any of the means or methods herein described and may afterwardberemoved' from the tilting. frame or iother appliances whereby .1 the starting; is. accomplishedrzand supported in any suitable way or in any pre- It is found that when the restoration of the,

vapor device takes place slowly, as illustrated in some of the later figures of the drawings, the breaking up of the mercury is likely to begin at the top of the stream or even at some intermediate portion thereof. Accordingly it is not desired to limit the action of the apparatus to a breaking up of the stream at'its lower end, but it will be understood that the interruption of the stream at any point is adequate to serve as a means for starting the apparatus into operation. It is to be noted in this connection that one of the essential featuresof the present invention consists in causing a closing and opening of the circuit through the apparatus by a single mechanical operation. In this respect the action differs from that of the somewhat similar devices in which one operation is made use of to close a circuit through the device, while a reverse operation ruptures the circuit through the conducting liquid and establishes the circuit through the gas or vapor.

In another application, filed August 10,1903, Serial No. 168,981, of which the present application is a division, claims are made upon the method herein described.

I claim as my invention 1. In a gas or vapor electric apparatus, a pair of conducting liquid electrodes, arranged one above the other, and means for tilting the apparatus so as to'cause a continuous stream of conducting liquid between the two electrodes.

2. In a gas or vapor electric apparatus, a pair of electrodes, one arranged above the other, meansfor tilting the apparatus so as to establish a continuousfflow of liquid from one electrode to the other, and means for applying a normal operating current to the terminals of the apparatus.

8. In an electrical system, a gas or vapor electrical device, a tilting frame in which the said device is mounted, electrodes in the said device, and means whereby the said frame can be tilted in one direction for supplying an excess of electrode material to one of the electrodes, and in the other direction for creating a conducting stream of electrode material between the two electrodes.

4. In an electrical system, a gas or vapor electrical apparatus containing two electrodes, one arranged above the other, a tilting frame in which the said apparatus is mounted,means for moving the frame in one direction to supply an excess of electrode material in the upper electrode, and automatic means whereby the apparatus can be restored to normal position and at the same time to establish a continuous stream of conducting material befor tilting the said frame to start the apparatus into operation, and means whereby a second tilting of the frame will cause a rupturing of the circuit of the apparatus.

6. The combination with a gas or vapor electric apparatus of the character described, of a tilting frame supporting the same, means for tilting the said frame out of normal position, means for restoring the frame to normal position, and means for locking the frame after restoration.

7. The combination with a gas or vapor electric apparatus of the character described, of a tilting frame supporting the same, means for successively tilting and restoring the frame to start the apparatus into operation, means for locking the frame after restoration, and

means whereby a second tilting of the frame will momentarily break the circuit of the apparatus.

8. In an electric system, one or more suspended gas or vapor electric devices, electrodes within the said devices, means for tipping or tilting the said device or devices so as to supply an excess of electrode material to one of the electrodes in the said device or devices, means for restoring the said device or devices after starting it or them into operation, and means for retarding the restoring means.

9. In an electric system, one or more suspended gas or vapor electric devices,electrodes within the said devices, means for tipping or tilting the said device or devices so as to supply an excess of electrode material to one of the electrodes in the said device or devices, means for automatically restoring the said device or devices after starting it or them into operation, and'means for retarding the restoring means. I

10. The combination with a gas or vapor electric apparatus containing a pair of'electrodes, located one above the other in the normal operation of the apparatus, means for temporarily reversing the said normal location of the said electrodes so as to supply an excess of the said electrode material to the electrode which is normally uppermost, and automatic means for restoring the normal position and simultaneously creating a natural disruptible flow of electrode material from the uppermost simultaneously creating a' natural disruptible flow of electrode material from the uppermost to the lowermost electrode, such means consisting of a gravitationally operated and retarded cord, a grip for the said cord and a release for the said grip.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 16th day of September, A. D. 1903.

STANWOOD E. FLIOHTNER:

Witnesses:

WM. H. CAPEL, THOS. H. BROWN. 

